An ISO 45001 certification body is an independent organisation accredited to assess your occupational health and safety management system (OHSMS) and issue certification once you’ve passed your external audit.
ISO 45001 is the internationally recognised standard for health and safety management. Replacing OHSAS 18001 in 2018, ISO 45001 takes a risk-based approach to workplace safety. It requires organisations to identify hazards, assess risks, and implement a safety management system that drives continual improvement. It places significant emphasis on worker participation, recognising that the people doing the work are best placed to identify potential hazards, prevent workplace accidents, and contribute to a safe workplace.
In Australia, your certificate only carries real weight when it comes from an accredited body.
Before you compare services, auditor experience, or pricing, check one thing: is the certification body accredited?
In Australia, JAS-ANZ is the government-appointed authority responsible for accrediting ISO 45001 certification companies and other certification bodies. It assesses every body for competence, impartiality, and audit quality. Through the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), JAS-ANZ accredited certificates carry international recognition. They’re accepted by procurement bodies, supply chain partners, and regulators in many countries.
A non-accredited body may offer a lower price. But if the certificate isn’t recognised where it needs to be, you’ll end up paying twice. That’s why accreditation is the first thing to look for – and it’s where Citation Group starts.
Accreditation is the non-negotiable starting point. Once you’ve confirmed a body is accredited, a few more things are worth checking.
The ISO 45001 certification body you choose on day one manages your annual surveillance audits in years one and two, and conducts your full recertification audit in year three. That relationship matters well beyond the initial ISO 45001 certification process, so it’s worth choosing carefully.
Look for an ISO 45001 certification body that raises findings clearly and explains what needs to change, not one that waves you through. As your organisation introduces new processes, contractors, or changes to risk management practices, a rigorous auditor will identify emerging hazards and areas for improvement instead of overlooking them.
If you hold other ISO management systems, an experienced ISO 45001 certification body can conduct an integrated audit, reducing the burden on your team. Choose based on rigour and fit, not price alone.
Loved working with the auditors for our ISO Accreditation. They provided me with valuable feedback and observations that will certainly enhance the business. I felt very well supported during this process as it was my first audit experience.
Catherine Trembath, Office Manager
Thank you for working with us to obtain ISO 45001 Certification. The process was thorough, structured and efficient and the system enhancements we have made to achieve certification will benefit our company greatly.
The breadth of experience and technical expertise you brought to the process was invaluable and really appreciated by all the senior leadership team involved.
Geoff Idzikowski, HSEQ Manager
The collaborative relationship we’ve developed with Citation Certification has turned into a true partnership where our business needs are holistically understood and supported.
John Hemingway, Regional HSE Manager
The auditor that was assigned to us was fantastic. He explained what was expected and required before the audit commenced. And even during the audit process, when things were being identified or uncovered, we could work quite dynamically. He was really accommodating and professional, and really quite pragmatic in the recommendations for improvement, which we’ve taken on board.
James Logan, Operations Risk and Compliance Manager
Our most recent audit cycle was one of the most positive experiences we’ve had since certifying to ISO/IEC 27001:2022, and the relaxed nature allowed us to engage in discourse that was open and honest about gaps and our plans to fix them.
Daniel van Driel, Risk and Governance Lead
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A JAS-ANZ accredited ISO 45001 certification body is an independent organisation assessed and authorised by the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand to audit occupational health and safety management systems and issue ISO 45001 certification.
JAS-ANZ is the government-appointed accreditation authority in Australia. Accreditation confirms that a certification body meets international standards for competence, impartiality, and audit quality. Through the International Accreditation Forum (IAF), JAS-ANZ accredited certificates carry international recognition. They’re accepted by government procurement bodies, business partners, and regulators in Australia and many other countries.
ISO 45001 replaced OHSAS 18001 in 2018. The transition deadline was September 2021, after which OHSAS 18001 certificates were no longer valid. ISO 45001 introduced a more structured, risk-based approach to occupational health and safety management. Key differences from OHSAS 18001 include:
If your organisation is still operating under OHSAS 18001, that certification is no longer valid – Citation Group can guide you through the transition.
ISO 45001 certification is valid for three years from the date of issue.
During that period, your ISO 45001 certification body conducts annual surveillance audits, typically in years one and two. These audits verify that your OHSMS continues to meet the requirements of the standard and has been effectively embedded across the business. At the end of year three, a full recertification audit reassesses your entire OHSMS. Organisations that view certification as an ongoing commitment to improvement, rather than a one-time achievement, generally find recertification much easier.
An occupational health and safety (OHS) policy is a statement of intent. ISO 45001 certification independently verifies that your occupational health and safety management system meets an internationally recognised standard.
Where an OHS policy sets out your commitment to workplace safety, ISO 45001 certification requires evidence of:
For procurement, supply chain, and regulatory purposes, accredited ISO 45001 certification carries significantly more weight than a policy document alone. It also provides a competitive advantage that a statement of intent can’t deliver.
Yes. ISO 45001 requires organisations to identify and assess all workplace hazards, including psychosocial ones such as stress, fatigue, and burnout.
For businesses that want to go further, ISO 45003 provides dedicated guidance on managing psychological health and safety risks within an ISO 45001-aligned system. This is increasingly relevant in Australia, where every state and territory now requires employers to explicitly identify, assess, and control psychosocial hazards. If your workforce faces high psychological demands, make sure this is captured in your OHSMS and your approach to risk assessment.
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